Comptonia peregrina
Sweetfern
Myricaceae

Located in the Pharmacy Garden along wall.

  • leaves alternate, narrow-lanceolate, bright green
  • leaves resemble fern fronds, with pinnatifid crenate margins
  • leaves very fragrant when brushed
  • buds small, hairy, round, imbricate
  • stems brown, hairy, resinous, aromatic
  • flowers are catkins, often visible over winter
  • fruit is a green-brown, bur-like nut
  • habit is a small, suckering shrub
  • plant frequently forms colonies
  • plant blackens with first frost

    View Comptonia peregrina page in the UConn Plant Database


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